STOP! Turn to the RIGHT

I’ve been thinking recently about the things that are going on all over the world — earthquakes, pestilence, disease, wars, economic upheaval, distrust, self-centeredness, weird weather, political differences, murder, suicide, moral breakdown, exorbitant spending, debt, famine, unrest, lying, stealing, deception, pride . . . and on goes the list. They are like dark clouds on the horizon.

Yes, folks, it getting darker out there. These unthinkable dark clouds on the horizons of nations and peoples around the whole world should not surprise us. A friend recently told me, “It shouldn’t surprise us at all, Nils. It’s written in the Word (of God, the Bible).”

“The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness.” The Message Isaiah 60:2

I get the feeling that in those dark clouds on the horizon there is awful lightning, thunder and torrential rains. A fearful storm is brewing. What do you suppose has caused those clouds of darkness so full of these things to gather on the horizon? Looking at the laws of nature, we understand that what goes up, must come down. All of the self-centered things described in the list above have risen into the heavens as it were and the result is about to be poured out on the nations of the earth in disturbing, fearful destruction. When it rains, the rain falls on everybody — the good and the bad.

We’ve got to —

— and decide which way we’re going to go to avoid the fearful consequences of these things.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” KJV

“There’s a way that looks harmless enough; look again –– it leads straight to hell.” Message Proverbs 16:25

You might find yourself frantically asking, “Which way should I turn?” By all means, make a RIGHT TURN (a proper, good, moral, virtuous, ethical, honorable, honest, exact, precise turn) and get inside, before the clouds of the storm open up. Inside there will be light, warmth and most of all peace of mind.

The RIGHT WAY to turn is into a personal relationship with Jesus, the Christ. He is the answer to all chaos! Speak His name and a great calm will overwhelm the heart. Atheism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Judaism, the occult, the Moonies, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Christian Scientists, and even being a Christian in name only are not the RIGHT WAY. Owning jewels, club memberships, properties, stocks, bonds, or huge bank accounts are not the RIGHT WAY.

Again, the RIGHT WAY is the person, JESUS, the Christ. He is the answer for which the deepest part of you cries out. Here it is in black and white —

Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 KJV

Here it is again, written three times so clearly that even a child can understand it —

Old King James says it this way: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Eugene Peterson says it this way in The Message: “Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” Acts 4:12

The American Standard says it this way: “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Now, for something that may surprise you! Remember where I wrote above, “I get the feeling that in those dark clouds on the horizon around the world there is awful lightning, thunder and torrential downpour?”

We won’t end on a negative note today because AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL is an archaic English adjective that truthfully meant inspiring reverence or dread; it meant to be overcome with awe; reverential; solemnly impressive; inspiring awe. These days we hear young people say it this way: “Oh, man, was that ever AWESOME!”Another way to properly define this word AWFUL is FULL OF AWE. So, what originally was meant to mean an attribute of God being full of AWE, somehow has turned to mean something negative — “Oh, it tastes awful.” However, in its true meaning one could easily say, “Oh, man that dessert was FULL OF AWE.”

The dark clouds on the horizons of the nations described above are on the one hand full of fearful destruction for those who refuse to make a RIGHT turn. On the other hand, they are full of the rain, lightening and thunder of GOD’s Holy Spirit falling upon those who make a RIGHT turn to Jesus. Clouds, rain, thunder and lightning are descriptive of the work of God’s Holy Spirit in the days that are on the horizon.

Every one of us will come to a STOP in life and have to decide which WAY to turn. If you find yourself there, by all means make a RIGHT turn to the One who will direct your path. Allow Jesus to be your GPS (God’s Peaceful Solution) in life, and proceed straight ahead. It will be the most AWESOME decision you’ll ever make.

(Notice the lower right hand corner of the STOP photo above — there is VERY little light left in the day.)

Nils Olson is a missionary pastor who works at Munakata Bethel Christian Center (Japan). Attended Bethel Temple Bible School in Seattle WA. Has resided in Munakata City, JAPAN for almost 40 years. Nils has authored the book, "My Chapter of the Story," a lifetime collection of stories and anecdotes.

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Man's First Coverup ―
"Then the eyes of both of them (Adam & Eve) were opened, and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings." Genesis 3:7 ― And man has been covering up his sin ever since.